How to print GS1 DataBar RSS 14 barcodes with Zebra ZPL-EPL printers and VB.NET or...
Prerequisites
- Neodynamic ThermalLabel SDK 2.0 for .NET
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 (or greater)
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 / 2008
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 / 2008 Express Editions (VB, C#, J#, and C++)
- Any Zebra Thermal Printer supporting ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) or EPL (Eltron Programming Language)
All Zebra (ZPL-based and EPL-based) thermal barcode printers provide built-in support for printing GS1 DataBar barcode family (formerly RSS - Reduced Space Symbology) as well as other barcode standards
GS1 DataBar is a family of linear barcode symbologies used within the GS1 System.
- GS1 DataBar-14 encodes AI (01) in a linear symbol that can be scanned omnidirectionally by suitably programmed slot scanners.
- GS1 DataBar Limited (formerly RSS Limited) encodes AI (01) in a linear symbol for use on small items that will not be scanned in an omnidirectional scanning environment.
- GS1 DataBar Expanded (formerly RSS Expanded) encodes GS1 System primary item identification plus supplementary AI Element Strings, such as weight and "best before" date, in a linear symbol that can be scanned omnidirectionally by suitably programmed slot scanners.
- GS1 DataBar-14 Stacked is a variation of the GS1 DataBar-14 Symbology that is stacked in two rows and used when the normal symbol would be too wide for the application. It comes in two versions: a truncated version used for small item marking applications and a taller version that is designed to be read by omnidirectional scanners.
In this guide you will learn how to print GS1 DataBar barcodes with Zebra ZPL-based or EPL-based printers by using ThermalLabel SDK for .NET
IMPORTANT: To test the sample code you must have installed a Zebra ZPL-based or EPL-based thermal printer.
Follow these steps:
- Download and install latest version of Neodynamic ThermalLabel SDK for .NET
- Open Visual Studio 2005 /2008 and create a Windows Forms application.
- Add a reference to Neodynamic.SDK.ThermalLabel.dll assembly.
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional (formerly RSS-14)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
Add a button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Although ThermalLabel SDK supports both ZPL and EPL printers, a label design you write using .NET code like C# or VB.NET will not produce the same output printing under ZPL and EPL printers. If you need to support both printer languages in your project then you will have to design two different labels targeting each printer language separately.
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarOmnidirectional, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarOmnidirectional, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
For EPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarOmnidirectional, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarOmnidirectional, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Limited (formerly RSS Limited)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
Add another button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Although ThermalLabel SDK supports both ZPL and EPL printers, a label design you write using .NET code like C# or VB.NET will not produce the same output printing under ZPL and EPL printers. If you need to support both printer languages in your project then you will have to design two different labels targeting each printer language separately.
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarLimited, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarLimited, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
For EPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarLimited, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarLimited, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Expanded (formerly RSS Expanded)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
NOTE
GS1 DataBar Expanded (formerly RSS Expanded) IS NOT supported by EPL-based printers.
Add another button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarExpanded, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarExpanded, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Stacked (formerly RSS-14 Stacked)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
Add another button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Although ThermalLabel SDK supports both ZPL and EPL printers, a label design you write using .NET code like C# or VB.NET will not produce the same output printing under ZPL and EPL printers. If you need to support both printer languages in your project then you will have to design two different labels targeting each printer language separately.
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStacked, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStacked, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
For EPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStacked, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStacked, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional (formerly RSS-14 Stacked Omnidirectional)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
NOTE
GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional (formerly RSS-14 Stacked Omnidirectional) IS NOT supported by EPL-based printers.
Add another button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStackedOmnidirectional, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarStackedOmnidirectional, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Example of encoding GS1 DataBar Truncated (formerly RSS-14 Truncated)
The value to encode is (01) 00614141999996. Please note that you must not specify the AI number i.e. 01 nor the checksum i.e. last 6 number to the Code property or in the BarcodeItem constructor.
Add another button control onto the form and paste the following code in the click event handler of the button:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Although ThermalLabel SDK supports both ZPL and EPL printers, a label design you write using .NET code like C# or VB.NET will not produce the same output printing under ZPL and EPL printers. If you need to support both printer languages in your project then you will have to design two different labels targeting each printer language separately.
For ZPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarTruncated, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarTruncated, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.ZPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra TLP2844-Z";
pj.Print(tLabel);
For EPL-based Printers
Visual Basic .NET
Dim tLabel As New ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0)
Dim bc As New BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarTruncated, "0061414199999")
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3
tLabel.Items.Add(bc)
Dim pj As New PrintJob()
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t"
pj.Print(tLabel)
Visual C# .NET
ThermalLabel tLabel = new ThermalLabel(UnitType.Cm, 10, 0);
BarcodeItem bc = new BarcodeItem(1, 2, BarcodeSymbology.GS1DataBarTruncated, "0061414199999");
bc.MagnificationFactor = 3;
tLabel.Items.Add(bc);
PrintJob pj = new PrintJob();
pj.PrinterSettings.Communication.CommunicationType = CommunicationType.USB;
pj.PrinterSettings.Dpi = 203;
pj.PrinterSettings.ProgrammingLanguage = ProgrammingLanguage.EPL;
pj.PrinterSettings.PrinterName = "Zebra GK420t";
pj.Print(tLabel);
- Run the sample Windows Forms application and test it.
Links:
This Demo
More Demos
Download ThermalLabel SDK for .NET
More Information about Neodynamic ThermalLabel SDK for .NET
Neodynamic
.NET Components & Controls
http://www.neodynamic.com
